I, Andrew Stone Gibbons, have been called to serve the people of the Jamaica, Kingston Mission. I will report to the Provo, UT MTC on June 22, 2016. I am so excited to serve the people in the Carribean and want to share with everyone my experiences.
Monday, June 25, 2018
25 June 2018 WEEK 105 Final PDay!
Today is Elder Stone Gibbons final P-day serving as a Missionary of the Church or Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints in the Jamaica Kingston Mission. We were able to message back and forth for a bit and he is sad to leave the people of Jamaica, yet excited to come home and see everyone again. I continue to reassure him the as long as he leaves it all on the field, the Lord is so pleased with his 105 weeks of service and what ever will be, will be. He has graced us this week with photos and no letter, but needless to say how can I be angry when he will be home in 3 days!!! Mom Happy Dance inserted here!
Tuesday, June 19, 2018
11 June 2018 WEEK 103
Hey,
Just wanted to let you know how this last week has been. It's been pretty hot these past few days; I have been praying for some rain. Apparently by the time I head out we should be experiencing some pretty wild weather. I have some pretty impressive looking calves because of all of these insane hills in Ochi. This past week our electricity has been in and out. We found an old Kerosene Lamp and filled it with rubbing alcohol and Olive oil. It worked haha.
It's crazy to think how little time left I have - It really feels no different then any other transfer of my mission. Thankfully, I have plenty of people to teach to keep me busy; it's only when my companion or one of the elders I live with makes a comment about how little time I have left that I even think about it.
I just wanted to Take this time to thank everybody for keeping in touch with me up to this point. It means a lot to know how much you all think of me; almost every week I can count on your messages and emails. I can promise you that none of your letter writing was in vain for each letter had the unique ability to bring a smile to my face and get me through some otherwise difficult times.
Because Our Mission President is in the hospital due to an infected heart valve, his wife sent us this weeks email. I just wanted to share a little bit of that:
We appreciate the prayers that you have offered for us. President Pearson is in the hospital and improving a bit each day. They drew 3 blood samples on Friday night shortly after he was admitted. Bacteria are growing on 2 of those 3 samples, which is good. By this afternoon, the doctor hopes to know which types of bacteria are causing the problem. This is a good thing, because knowing who the enemy is IS a good thing, it helps them to come up with the best strategy. Once they know who the bad guys are, they will be able to customize his treatment using the antibiotics to which they are most susceptible. He does look better and feels a bit better as well. Again, thanks so much for your prayers, and please “keep ‘em coming”!
As I was studying the Book of Mormon this past week, I read these words --- 2 Nephi 2:2 Nevertheless, Jacob, my firstborn in the wilderness, thou knowest the greatness of God; and he shall consecrate thine afflictions for thy gain.
3 Wherefore, thy soul shall be blessed, and thou shalt dwell safely with thy brother, Nephi; and thy days shall be spent in the service of thy God. Wherefore, I know that thou art redeemed, because of the righteousness of thy Redeemer; for thou hast beheld that in the fulness of time he cometh to bring salvation unto men.
However, these are the words I “heard” in my “minds’ ear” --- 2 Nephi 2:2 Nevertheless, Elder _____ or Sister _____, my wonderful missionary in the JKM, thou knowest the greatness of God; and he shall consecrate thine afflictions for thy gain.
3 Wherefore, thy soul shall be blessed, and thou shalt dwell safely with thy companion, Elder _____ or Sister _____; and thy days shall be spent in the service of thy God. Wherefore, I know that thou art redeemed, because of the righteousness of thy Redeemer; for thou hast beheld that in the fulness of time he cometh to bring salvation unto men.
I love the counsel to liken the scriptures unto ourselves. Do that for yourselves, and reap a wonderful harvest of personal revelation.
-Elder Gibbons-
Keep Trying. Keep Pushing. Keep Believing. Keep Growing. Heaven is Cheering You on Today, Tomorrow, and Forever.
Monday, June 4, 2018
4 June 2018 WEEK 102
I believe that the lord allowing me to serve in Jamaica has strengthened me in numerous ways. I have been able to see those blessings in our day to day missionary efforts. And lets just say that it was one of those weeks. As Elder Boyer and I have been building our area, we have been focused on ministering with the members. We took this approach with the objective in mind to help strengthen the roots of this branch before it withers and collapses. The excitement to do missionary work increases more and more each time we meet with them. One in particular is and older gentlemen we call Brother Eddy. He is about 84 and was baptized 2 years ago. But he is a referral machine. What makes this even more interesting is he is blind. The testimony this man has of the gospel is an example to everyone. It goes to show, that even though we may have our challenges, the gathering of Israel in these the latter-days is that important.
So many people are ready to receive the gospel it is crazy. As we have taken this approach we have kept in mind to find those who are ready to investigate the church. This week many people called to us asking us to come by and teach them, and they are amazing. They are so ready to learn and change there life! And in so many instances with them, they have expressed how they appreciate we are real with them. They love how we are there to talk with them, play with them, ect... And that has really helped to understand what the gospel is about.
Last night We had family home evening with our Branch President and his family. We watched the Devotional that was held by President Nelson and his wife. We are the hope of israel in these the latter days. And the Youth of the church today are the strongest tool we have in hastening this marvelous work. The youth Battalion!! I know President Nelson Is a Prophet.
Virtue is a prerequisite to entering the Lord’s holy temples and to receiving the Spirit’s guidance. Virtue “is a pattern of thought and behavior based on high moral standards.” It encompasses chastity and moral purity. Virtue begins in the heart and in the mind. It is nurtured in the home. It is the accumulation of thousands of small decisions and actions. Virtue is a word we don’t hear often in today’s society, but the Latin root word virtus means strength. Virtuous women and men possess a quiet dignity and inner strength. They are confident because they are worthy to receive and be guided by the Holy Ghost. President Monson has counseled: “You be the one to make a stand for right, even if you stand alone. Have the moral courage to be a light for others to follow. There is no friendship more valuable than your own clear conscience, your own moral cleanliness—and what a glorious feeling it is to know that you stand in your appointed place clean and with the confidence that you are worthy to do so” (“Examples of Righteousness,” Apr. 2008 general conference).
Section 121 of the Doctrine and Covenants was received by the Prophet Joseph Smith while he was a prisoner in the jail at Liberty, Missouri: 121:45 Let thy bowels also be full of charity towards all men, and to the household of faith, and let virtue garnish thy thoughts unceasingly; then shall thy confidence wax strong in the presence of God; and the doctrine of the priesthood shall distil upon thy soul as the dews from heaven.
There are some very powerful promises in this scripture that will come to you as you study and practice VIRTURE and CHARITY on your mission and in your life.
Philippians 4: 8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
So, we are counseled to think on these things. That sounds like study virtue to us.
2 Peter !:5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;
Build faith and add to it virtue.
A few excerpts from a talk, May You Have Courage, given by President Monson:
Tonight I’d like to talk with you about the courage you will need in three aspects of your lives:
“First, the courage to refrain from judging others;
Second, the courage to be chaste and virtuous; and
Third, the courage to stand firm for truth and righteousness.
I turn next to the courage you will need to be chaste and virtuous. You live in a world where moral values have, in great measure, been tossed aside, where sin is flagrantly on display, and where temptations to stray from the strait and narrow path surround you. Many are the voices telling you that you are far too provincial or that there is something wrong with you if you still believe there is such a thing as immoral behavior.
Isaiah declared, “Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness.
Great courage will be required as you remain chaste and virtuous amid the accepted thinking of the times.
BE ALERT TO ANYTHING THAT WOULD ROB YOU OF THE BLESSINGS OF ETERNITY.
The commandments of our Heavenly Father are not negotiable!”
Section 121 of the Doctrine and Covenants was received by the Prophet Joseph Smith while he was a prisoner in the jail at Liberty, Missouri: 121:45 Let thy bowels also be full of charity towards all men, and to the household of faith, and let virtue garnish thy thoughts unceasingly; then shall thy confidence wax strong in the presence of God; and the doctrine of the priesthood shall distil upon thy soul as the dews from heaven.
There are some very powerful promises in this scripture that will come to you as you study and practice VIRTURE and CHARITY on your mission and in your life.
Philippians 4: 8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
So, we are counseled to think on these things. That sounds like study virtue to us.
2 Peter !:5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;
Build faith and add to it virtue.
A few excerpts from a talk, May You Have Courage, given by President Monson:
Tonight I’d like to talk with you about the courage you will need in three aspects of your lives:
“First, the courage to refrain from judging others;
Second, the courage to be chaste and virtuous; and
Third, the courage to stand firm for truth and righteousness.
I turn next to the courage you will need to be chaste and virtuous. You live in a world where moral values have, in great measure, been tossed aside, where sin is flagrantly on display, and where temptations to stray from the strait and narrow path surround you. Many are the voices telling you that you are far too provincial or that there is something wrong with you if you still believe there is such a thing as immoral behavior.
Isaiah declared, “Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness.
Great courage will be required as you remain chaste and virtuous amid the accepted thinking of the times.
BE ALERT TO ANYTHING THAT WOULD ROB YOU OF THE BLESSINGS OF ETERNITY.
The commandments of our Heavenly Father are not negotiable!”
--
-Elder Gibbons-
Keep Trying. Keep Pushing. Keep Believing. Keep Growing. Heaven is Cheering You on Today, Tomorrow, and Forever.
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